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Sometimes Windows partitions wind up with movable files/folders at the end of the partition, even when the partition is mostly empty. This makes it impossible to shrink the partition using Windows' Disk Management tool.

Is there a Windows 7 compatible gratis defragmentation tool that will move all files/folders to the beginning of the partition?

I tried the well-regarded UltraDefrag as well as the integrated Windows defragmentation tool. Both left many movable files at the end of the partition.

Note that I am not referring to moving swap files or hibernation files.

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  • Have you asked on SuperUser what files could be blocking the defrag process?
    – Thomas Weller
    Jul 27, 2016 at 20:59
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    @ThomasWeller Interestingly, nothing is blocking the defrag. The files are defragmented, just not consolidated.
    – RockPaperLz- Mask it or Casket ♦
    Jul 27, 2016 at 22:13
  • This is comment because it does not run inside windows. gparted and/or parted magic offer a way to boot into a linux desktop. gparted can then shrink/resize any partition without the need to manually move files out of the way. Obviously if the file is not protected, you could just cut the file,and move it to another drive temporarily.
    – cybernard
    Aug 6, 2016 at 4:19
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    This makes it impossible to shrink the partition using Windows' Disk Management tool - which I stopped using long ago, in favour of the excellent, and free, partitionwizard.com/free-partition-manager.html which can shrink such a partition, no problem. Have you tried it?
    – Mawg says reinstate Monica
    Sep 8, 2016 at 8:26
  • @Mawg Thanks. It's been on my list of tools to try, but I have not tried it yet. I don't see a portable version on their site. Do you know if they offer one?
    – RockPaperLz- Mask it or Casket ♦
    Sep 8, 2016 at 9:10

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